Dark Chocolate Nut Butter Energy Bites

I had been looking for an energy bite recipe that didn't call for protein powder. After doing some research and tweaking some recipes I found online I came up with these yummy gems. They are great to grab and pop in your mouth on the way to the gym for a quick energy pick up or pack along for a hike instead of bringing store bought granola bars.

I made my second batch today. Most of the first batch were gobbled up by the boys and I on a day hike to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. If you have never been to this magical spot in Texas hill country, I recommend you go when you get a chance. It is a granite monolith that formed from magma under the earth's surface over a billion years ago. Erosion has a lot to do with how it looks today. According to the Texas state park website, it is a 425 foot climb to the top. In the summer it is nearly unbearable with the heat, but we experienced perfect spring weather. We also arrived at the peak of wildflower season, with bluebonnets and indian paintbrush lining the roads and many other wildflower varieties blooming from cracks in the rock.

Pretty, huh?

I've also been active with cross training the last couple of months. In order to maintain my endurance during the workout of the day, I need a snack about a half hour before hand. Grabbing one or two of these energy bites gets me through my workout until I can get home and cook dinner. They are also fairly quick to make ahead for the week.

Dark Chocolate Nut Butter Energy Bites

1 cup quick oats

1/4 cup dark chocolate nut butter

1/4 cup nutty peanut butter (or any nut butter you prefer)

1 Tbsp chia seeds

2 Tbsp flax seed meal

1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

1 Tbsp melted coconut oil

2-3 Tbsp dark chocolate chips 

1/4 tsp cinnamon

unsweetened coconut flakes for rolling

Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Measure out tablespoon sized portions and form into balls using your hands. Coat with coconut flakes.

Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. 

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

I am by no means perfect when it comes to healthy eating. Sweets are my downfall, especially chocolate and ice cream. But I have never sacrificed healthy eating due to budget shortfalls. As with anything else, it is all about prioritizing. Where are you not willing to budge and what is most important to you? I do not clip coupons, though I will use them when I see a good deal, but as a single parent I don't have time to be the coupon queen and most of the items I buy never seem to have coupon deals anyway.

Here are some of the things I do to cut grocery costs and still eat healthy:

• Prioritize the foods I am not going to compromise on. Example, I prefer buying organic, but it's not always in my budget. However, I do stick to buying organic foods listed on the EWG's dirty dozen list. I figure at least that way I am reducing the amount of pesticide and herbicide exposure in my family.
• Shop mainly from the perimeter. I forget where I read about this tip from, but most groceries are set up with the unprocessed food on the perimeter; dairy, meat, produce, etc. You will automatically be eating healthier with this tip alone.
• Put a permanent ban on, or at least limit, items with little or no nutritional value. I don't buy soda or candy. You won't see Little Debbies in my cart. Much to my youngest son's dismay, I won't buy sugary cereals. I rarely buy cereal at all anymore. Like I said, I do give in to ice cream every now and then and I have convinced myself that the three pack of dark chocolate bars at Trader Joe's is a healthy treat. But if I am going to make the most of my grocery budget, then things that don't actually nourish us need to go.
• Grow my own. Right now I have a little salad garden providing greens, tomatoes, and broccoli. Most of these can be grown in containers on a patio if you are tight on space. I am also fortunate enough to live in an area that I can have my two chickens, who provide plenty of eggs for me and the boy.
• Don't buy things I normally wouldn't buy because they are on sale. On the other hand, if I see something I use regularly on sale or clearance, I stock up. The important thing here is to not play into the retail marketing game. You understand your needs more than a sale advertisement flyer. 
• Plan, make a list, and stick to it. When I do this, I am more likely to stay within my budget. Of course, sometimes I will step outside of this when I see something that will reduce next week's budget because of an unexpected clearance sale. Again, it has to be something I truly need and will use up.
• Reduced my meat consumption. We eat mostly vegetarian, some fish and chicken. Regardless of your political standings regarding the consumption of meat, a good quality steak is expensive. Plus, it really isn't healthy to make it the main focus of your diet. 

Recently, I am trying two new ways to cut cost, but since I have just started using both I have no idea on their long term benefit. The first is Amazon's subscribe and save for items like toothpaste, toilet paper, dog food, and other nonperishables. I got my first delivery at the beginning of this month and now I have six months worth (or a butt load, ha ha!) of toilet paper, among other things I regularly use. You can pick how often you want them to send an item and there is a bigger discount if you order several items in a month. 

I also just downloaded the Ibotta app to my phone and will be trying it out this week. This app refunds you for certain purchases simply by submitting photos of your grocery receipts using your smart phone. There are other similar apps out there as well. I am excited to give it a try. For military families, many of the rebates are good on purchases at the commissary so you might want to give it a try. If you already use Ibotta or a similar app, I'd love to hear your feedback. 

Here is to healthy eating!